If you haven’t been on safari yet…

Though waking up at the crack of dawn to drive around in an open jeep—facing the very real possibility of not seeing anything at all—may be a deal breaker for some, a safari holiday is definitely something you don’t want to miss out on. Here’s a basic guide to what you need to know about planning your first safari.

WHY GO ON A SAFARI?

A safari holiday is extremely versatile. It can make for a great family getaway, a romantic honeymoon for adventurous couples, a wildlife buff’s dream vacation or simply a chance to get back and connect with nature in a raw, primal way.

WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL? While it’s true that you need to be prepared to surrender certain luxuries associated with holidays (like waking up late), going on safari hasn’t meant ‘roughing it’ for decades now. Today’s safari hotspots like Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, India and Sri Lanka have luxury options that will please even the most fussiest of travellers. Five-star accommodation, gourmet dining and spa treatments are just some of the top-notch draws that modern safaris offer.

WHERE TO GO As mentioned above, there are plenty of safari options available based on your budget and the animals you’d like to see.

Kenya Everyone knows that an African safari and the opportunity to see the Big Five (lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) is the pinnacle of a wildlife holiday; which is why Kenya’s Masai Mara is a hot favourite. Its 1,510sq km of open grassland is home to the Big Five, along with other animals like gazelle, wildebeest, cheetahs, hyenas and plenty more. There are lots of choices as far as accommodation goes: Fairmont Mara Safari Club (www.fairmont.com/masai-mara-safari; Doubles from Rs51,729 per night inclusive of safari fees) has 50 luxury tents with four-poster beds and private verandas while Ngerende Island Lodge (www.ngerende.com/the-lodge; Doubles from Rs37,440 inclusive of safari fees) has seven uber-luxurious stilted suites whose balconies have expansive views of the Mara river.

Tanzania The expansive Masai Mara slithers into neighbouring Tanzania and becomes the vast Serengeti, home to the largest terrestrial migration of mammals on earth—the Great Wildebeest Migration, an 800km journey across the plains. Though the migration is the main attraction here, herds of zebras and buffalos are a common sight. Additionally, the Serengeti is home to the one of the largest lion prides, which increases your chances of spotting them and maybe even witnessing a hunt. Singita Sasakawa Lodge (http://singita.com/sasakwa-lodge; Doubles from Rs 81,120) has one-to-four bedroom cottages each with their own infinity pools, which makes for a great vantage point over the plains below and Asilia’s Olakira Camp’s luxury canvas tents move with the seasons, ensuring you always have the best and closest view of all the action (http://olakira.asiliaafrica.com; Doubles from Rs54,912)

Botswana This African country has three national parks and seven game reserves. Of these, the Chobe National Park has the largest concentration of wildlife on the continent. To put it simply: you’re almost guaranteed to see wildlife here, especially elephants as the park’s elephant population is the largest in the country. The 15-cottage Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero (www.sanctuaryretreats.com/botswana-lodges-chobe-chilwero; Doubles from Rs65,937) sits at the river’s edge and its views are astounding—sometimes you can see all the way up to neighbouring Namibia. Khwai River Lodge (www.khwairiverlodge.com; Doubles from Rs69,687) is located at the edge of Botswana’s Moremi Wildlife Game Reserve and its raised lodges overlook the floodplains of the park.

India India has seen a huge surge in wildlife tourism and safaris in the past few years. It’s no longer only about Ranthambore. While the Bengal Tiger remains wild India’s top draw, and tiger-spotting is hugely popular in parks like Pench and Kanha, travellers are fast realising that there is plenty beyond the big cat, like Kaziranga, home to two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population and Gir National Park, the last bastion of the Asiatic Lion. Taj Safaris has a host of properties around the country (www.tajsafaris.com).

Sri Lanka The top draw in Sri Lanka is the leopard. Interestingly, unlike in the Indian subcontinent or Africa where the tiger and lion are top predators, respectively, in Sri Lanka, the leopard is the top of the food chain. There are plenty of places to see the stealthy cat including Yala National Park. The second-largest reserve in the country, the park is home to the highest density of leopards in Asia and is also home to the Sri Lankan Elephant and a variety of birds. Cinnamon Wild Yala (www.cinnamonhotels.com/CinnamonWildYala; Doubles from Rs13,125) has jungle and beach chalets with camp-style furniture and its observation deck bar has 360-degree views of the surrounding parkland.

APPS YOU CAN USE ParkSpotter Africa This app is extremely handy. If you’re staring at a bird, animal or plant you don’t know, take a picture of it with this app. It instantly cross-references it with a huge database and gives you the answer immediately. Plus geo-tagging, mapping and more!http://www.parkspotterafrica.com/; Free for Apple)

Africa: Live This app provides sightings of animals in real–time. Lost track of a herd of elephants? Want to know where they are? Open up the app and find out.(www.wildafricalive.com; Free for Apple and Android)

Star Walk We’re all guilty of it—looking up in to a clear night sky and admiring the millions of stars out there. But, which is which? And what about the constellations? Can you tell the Great Dipper from the Bear? Enter Star Walk. With this nifty app, all you have to do is point your phone skywards and move about. It gives you detailed descriptions of what you’re looking at: stars, planets, constellations et al.(Available on Apple for Rs170)

GENERAL DOS AND DONT’S

Do dress appropriately. Nobody expects you to be fashionable on safari. Comfortable shorts, jeans and t-shirts should be at the top of your list. Sensible colours like khaki that help you blend into the background are a good idea; neon pink, not so much.

Do keep your children within arm’s reach. Safety is paramount.

Do listen to your guide and obey the rules.

Do make sure you’ve had your malaria and yellow fever vaccinations before departure

Don’t get to close to any animal. In most cases, you are asked not to leave the vehicle.

Don’t litter. Even if it’s a wrapper.

Don’t be insensitive to local culture and custom: If you are taken to meet an indigenous tribe, respect their rich culture and tradition. Ask your guide what is considered appropriate behaviour. For example, taking photos.

Don’t be late for safari. Nobody likes being kept waiting, especially so early in the morning.